Overview of options and opportunities from the chemicals and
waste perspective
Delivering on the 2030 Agenda through Environmental Governance:
Promoting synergies between biodiversity and chemicals and waste MEA clusters
Rossana Silva Repetto,
Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention
Third Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Minamata Convention, 25 November 2019
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
Expiring goals
As a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder policy framework, the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management (SAICM), was adopted in 2006 by the First International
Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM1).
Its goal is that chemicals, throughout their life cycle, are “used and produced in ways that
minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment” by 2020.
ICCM4 initiated an intersessional process to prepare recommendations regarding the Strategic
Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 to be considered
by ICCM5 in 2020.
The summary report to the second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook (GCO II) indicates
that, despite significant action already taken, the global goal will not be achieved by 2020.
Expiring goals
The Aichi targets, a set of 20 global targets under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-202,
are “expiring” next year.
Further to decision 14/34 of the CBD, the Convention will adopt, in 2020, a post-2020 global
biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “"Living in harmony with
nature".
The efforts to develop the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework are occurring in
parallel with the SAICM intersessional process that aims to prepare recommendations for the
Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.
Close coordination between the two clusters provides an opportunity to create synergies, enhance policy
coherence and coordination, and align the objectives and efforts throughout the remaining parts of both
consultation processes leading up to 2020.
Chemical pollution and biodiversity
Ecosystem deterioration and subsequent negative impact on biodiversity
are mainly caused by:
• chemical pollution deriving from industrial activities, releases into
land and water.
• the use of pesticides and fertilizers;
• the improper management of waste;
• informal mining and artisanal and small-scale gold mining that uses
mercury, which occurs mainly in forests and protected areas
The common areas of interest need to be tackeld in
collaboration and coordination between the chemicals
and the biodiversity actors, so that concrete policies
and actions that address such areas in a consistent
and synergistic manner can be adopted.
Agenda 2030: A suitable overarching framework
The 2030 Agenda offers a suitable overarching framework for UNEP and the various MEAs
in the two clusters to further strengthen cooperation and joint actions to deliver on the
environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
The ICCM4 in 2015 welcomed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and noted that
there is a “potential for SAICM, as a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder platform, to make a
significant contribution to the implementation of that Agenda, in particular its goals and targets
relating to chemicals and waste.”
In fact, the SDGs rely heavily on the sound management of chemicals and waste, and cannot be
met unless the impacts of chemicals and waste on people and the environment are drastically
reduced.
Chemicals and waste management are reflected explicitly in a number of goals and targets, including those addressing health, water, cities and human settlements, and responsible consumption and production.
They also relate implicitly to the goals on poverty, agriculture, oceans, decent work and climate change.
Options to promote synergies
• Aichi Target 8: “By 2020, pollution (…) has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to
ecosystem function and biodiversity”, could be strengthened for example by highlighting specific
pollutants, such as pesticides, fertilizers, plastics, etc., and adding targets for treatment of
industrial waste water.
• The list of pesticides included in the Stockholm and Rotterdam convention annexes could be
expanded considering consequences on biodiversity.
• In order to minimize the pressure on ecosystems, in particular protected areas and forests where
ASGM takes place, the linkage with biodiversity could be strengthened for example through the
development of the Minamata National Action Plans that aim to replace the use of mercury in
the sector are replace it with sustainable alternatives.
Options to promote synergies
• Reinforcing institutional collaborations between the two clusters, for example by
developing joint programmes aimed at tackling issues of common concern, such as the
Basel Convention’s Plastic Waste Partnership.
• Stronger involvement of MEA Secretariats in the delivery of UNEP’s existing
programmes, such as the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and the fifth Montevideo
Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law for the
decade starting in 2020.
• Coordination and consultations among national focal points of MEAs in the two
clusters to ensure that priorities of both cluster MEAs are included in the development of
both post-2020 frameworks.
Options to promote synergies
• Enhancing multi-stakeholder and multisectoral cooperation between biodiversity and
chemicals actors through platforms like SAICM and MEAs partnerships, i.e., Global
Mercury Partnership led by UNEP.
• Building collaboration at the national level among actors (governance and institutional
arrangements) and intersectoral enforcement legislation, i.e., illegal trade.
• Green Customs Initiative, led by UNEP: Partnership to enhance the capacity of customs
and other relevant border control officers to monitor and facilitate the legal trade and to
detect and prevent illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities covered by trade
related conventions and MEAs.
UNEA as a suitable platform
UNEA is a suitable platform that can foster dialogue and cooperation among all MEAs.
Relevant UNEA resolutions include: resolution 1/5 on chemicals and waste, 2/7 on sound
management of chemicals and waste and 3/4 on environment and health.
UNEA Resolution 3/2 in 2017 on “Pollution mitigation by mainstreaming biodiversity into key
sectors”, highlighted the linkages between the chemicals and biodiversity clusters by
recognizing that fostering cross-sectoral initiatives will provide an opportunity to achieve the
goals and objectives of different MEAs and international commitments, including the Aichi
Targets and the SDGs.
UNEA: Opportunities for synergies• Before UNEA: Stronger MEA imprint during UNEA preparation, for example during CPR
meetings, OECPR, and regional forums of ministers of environment and the regional forums on
sustainable development.
• During UNEA: Organisation of dialogue sessions between UNEP Executive Director, Heads of
MEAs, COP and UNEA Presidents. Preparation of “thematic briefs” for Presidents or members of
the respective Bureaus, in consultation with MEA Secretariats, on proposed resolutions,
highlighting ongoing initiatives, priorities for cooperation and possible intergovernmental decisions
that promote coherence and synergies between MEAs on substantive issues.
• After UNEA: The implementation of relevant UNEA resolutions offer an opportunity for UNEP and
the various MEAs to further strengthen joint actions to deliver on the environmental dimension of
the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. UNEA resolutions implementation teams could also include MEA
Secretariats’ staff, as appropriate, to strengthen programmatic coherence and cooperation
between UNEP and MEAs;
